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Chill out: Hypothermia treatment in the pediatric patient population

Kenneth F Potter1, Jacqueline Szilagyi1, Laura Lahaye1

  • 1Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, 1200 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.

Journal of the National Medical Association
|March 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Perioperative hypothermia in children poses significant risks, impacting recovery and increasing complications. Effective prevention and management strategies are crucial for safer pediatric surgical care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Thermoregulation
  • Patient Safety

Background:

  • Perioperative hypothermia is a common complication in pediatric surgery.
  • Children have immature thermoregulatory systems, increasing their vulnerability.
  • Hypothermia can lead to coagulopathy, infection, and delayed recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the definition, measurement, and impact of perioperative hypothermia in pediatric patients.
  • To highlight challenges in temperature monitoring and management.
  • To discuss prevention strategies and address healthcare disparities.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on pediatric perioperative hypothermia.
  • Analysis of thermoregulation in children.
  • Examination of temperature monitoring techniques and their limitations.
  • Discussion of hypothermia prevention strategies and challenges.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric patients are uniquely susceptible to hypothermia due to immature thermoregulation.
  • Discrepancies in temperature monitoring can lead to mismanagement.
  • Effective prevention requires prewarming, intraoperative warming, and continuous monitoring.
  • Healthcare disparities impact hypothermia prevention and management.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized protocols and further research are needed to reduce disparities.
  • Addressing challenges in equipment and patient-specific factors is essential.
  • Mitigating perioperative hypothermia improves pediatric patient outcomes.

Keywords:
CoagulopathyDelayed emergenceNonshivering thermogenesisPerioperative hypothermiaPre-warmingTemperature monitoring

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